MINT FAMILY. Labiates. 



Lyre-leaved A sli g htl y rough-hairy, slender plant, 



Sage with conspicuous light violet flowers 



Salvia lyrata nearly an incli long, which are cross-fer- 

 Light violet tilized mostly by the bumblebees ; Bombus 

 une- u y vagans and Bombus pennsylvanicus being 



frequent visitors. The lower leaves are somewhat lyre- 

 shaped, the upper pair (sometimes two pairs) mid-way 

 up the stem, similar but less cut, or lobed ; the tubular 

 flowers with a broad three-lobed lip which furnishes a 

 convenient landing-platform for insect visitors ; 1-2 feet 

 high. In dry woodlands, and beside thickets. N. J., 

 south, and west to 111. and Ark. 



_ _ A brilliant and showy wild flower whose 



Oswego Tea or . J , , . * ,. , , 



Bee Balm scarlet-red color is strongly relieved by its 



Monarda usual background of shady woodland. 



didyma Commonly found beside streams on the 



^ rlet - red border of the woods. 



September The Monardas are peculiarly adapted to 



the visits of butterflies, although they are 

 also commonly visited by bees, the bumblebee in particu- 

 lar. The two anther-bearing stamens are prominent, as 

 well as the two-parted stigma, and neither can be passed 

 without friction by butterfly or bee, both of which have 

 the long tongue necessary to reach the nectar. The 

 bumblebees mentioned as visitors of the foregoing species 

 also frequent this flower, together with the butterflies 

 Colias philodice, yellow, and the large Danais archip- 

 pus, black-and-tan. The sombre dark green leaves are 

 broad lance-shaped, sharply toothed, and stemmed ; the 

 small leaves just beneath the flower are often tinged 

 ruddy. The stem, rather hairy-rough and square, is 

 about 2 feet high, or more. Moist ground, N. Eng., 

 south to Ga. , and west to Mich. 



.,,.. . _. A similar species with a smooth or spar- 



Wild Bergamot . *\ 



Monarda fistu- m S l Y downy, slender stem, and deep green 



losa leaves, the upper ones somewhat stained 



Magenta- with the pure pale lilac or whitish tint 



purple which characterizes the flower-bracts. The 



June— ™ 



September flowers with a less expanded throat, paler 



or deeper magenta-purple. 2-3 feet high. 



Dry ground, Me. , south, and west to Neb. and S. Dak. 



393 



